What does subsidizing mean Meaning and Definition

Pronunciation

/suˈbɪdɪzɪŋ/ 🔊

Part of Speech

Noun or Verb

Definition

The act of providing financial support or assistance to an organization, industry, or individual, often to promote a specific goal or objective, such as economic development or social welfare.

Examples

• The government has implemented policies to subsidize renewable energy production.
• The company is considering subsidizing employee health insurance premiums.

Synonyms

• Financial aid
• Support
• Assistance

Antonyms

• Penalizing
• Discouraging
• Withholding

Additional Information

Subsidizing is often used to promote economic development, improve public health, or support education. It can take various forms, including grants, loans, tax breaks, and price controls. The effectiveness of subsidizing programs depends on careful planning, implementation, and evaluation to ensure they achieve their intended goals without creating unintended consequences.

Subsidizing can also be used to stimulate innovation, promote competition, or protect domestic industries. For example, governments may provide subsidies to encourage research and development in strategic sectors, such as clean energy or biotechnology.

Etymology

The word “subsidizing” comes from the Latin subsidium, meaning “assistance” or “support.”

Usage Notes

When using the term “subsidizing,” it’s essential to specify the context and the type of support being provided. For example, you might say “the government is subsidizing renewable energy production” instead of simply “the government is subsidizing.”

Cultural References

In popular culture, the concept of subsidizing is often portrayed in films and television shows that depict economic crises or government interventions in the market. For example, the film “The Big Short” (2015) highlights the role of subsidies in the US housing market during the 2008 financial crisis.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Sayings like “throwing money at a problem” or “pumping money into a project” can refer to the act of subsidizing.

Related Words or Phrases

• Assistance
• Support
• Aid
• Funding

Collocations

• Subsidizing the arts
• Subsidizing renewable energy
• Subsidizing education
• Subsidizing healthcare

Frequency of Use

According to Google Ngram Viewer, the frequency of the word “subsidizing” has been increasing steadily since the 1960s, with a slight decline in recent years.

Common Misspellings

• Subsidise
• Susidizing
• Subsidie